Basics of LGA775/Core2 Duo/DDR2 Systems?

[Big.Wayne]

Hi,

I'm interested to get up to speed with the latest kit. I've built a lot of INTEL systems in the past (Socket7/Slot 1/FCPGA/Socket478) but I've never used a LGA775 or DDR-2 system before so I wanna get a few things right.

I understand that the (quad-pumped) FSB has now been raised from 200MHz (800MHz-FSB) to 266MHz (1066MHz-FSB) but am not sure which DDR2 memory runs at this speed?

Are people getting the best results from just upping their FSB and running the memory 1:1 sync or does it have much of an impact if you use a divider on the memory (async)?.

Are you able to adjust the Core2 Duo's multiplier in anyway? You never really were able to do this in the past with an INTEL CPU but I think I read that you can now adjust the multiplier downwards?

Also what is it like fitting a LGA775 CPU for the first time?

Think thats it for now, if you feel you can add any basic info for someone who is new to LGA775/DDR-2/Core2 Duo it would be much appreciated!

 

[Big.Wayne]

DDR2 runs at double data rate

I thought regular DDR memory did that? do you mean it runs at double the rate of DDR

Haha I'me even more confused now Jokester

Can you give me an example? I'm not getting this DDR2 thing at all

 

[Big.Wayne]

Ok Cob cool!,

can you tell me what the stock speed of your E6600 is (and Multi) then tell me what adjustments you made to your FSB to hit 3.6Ghz?

I'm trying to work out what is the good memory to be looking for. If the stock FSB is 266MHz (x4= 1066MHz) I'm guessing you want your memory to reach as high as possible (like 400MHz+), What is the FSB limit to these newer mobo's then?

Is there a nice list somewhere where I can see the stock values of these Core2 Chips? (GHz and multi's) as I was looking at getting the cheapest one possible (e6300?) and am aware its probably got a low value multi and I will need to hit a high FSB meaning:

Cheap CPU = Expensive Mobo + Expensive Ram
Expensive CPU = Bargain Mobo + Bargain Ram

Looking at getting CPU + Mobo + RAM for testing purposes, not sure which option above would work out best?

 

[Big.Wayne]

e6300 is 266x7, e6400 is 266x8, e6600 is 266x9 and the e6700 is 266x10. The X6800 is 266x11 but has a fully unlocked multiplier

Thanks Cob, I appreciate you taking the time to write that!

965 chipset boards are particualrly good at overclocking the Allendale cores, typically exceeding 500MHz in some cases. 975X boards will typically do 400-420MHz for Conroe cores though some can do upto 450 with some luck.

Thanks Jokester, thing I don't understand is why the cheaper chipset is capable of hitting higher FSB's? Why is anyone using a 975x chipset then?

One other thing I wanted to confirm, I read somewhere that the CD2 works better the higher the memory bandwidth is, to the extent that in some examples the system was faster with the memory set to a higher divider? i.e The memory is running at a higher speed than the FSB (async!)?

Apart from that I think I understand it all now, except this new DDR2 memory speeds, I know all the older DDR ratings off by heart

PC2100 - DDR266 (FSB 133MHz)
PC2700 - DDR333 (FSB 166MHz)
PC3200 - DDR400 (FSB 200MHz)
PC3500 - DDR433 (FSB 217MHz)
PC3700 - DDR466 (FSB 233MHz)
PC4000 - DDR500 (FSB 250MHz)

etc. . .

So is this list below correct?

PC2-4200 - DDR533 (FSB 266MHz)
PC2-5300 - DDR667 (FSB 333MHz)
PC2-6400 - DDR800 (FSB 400MHz)
PC2-7200 - DDR850 (FSB 450MHz)
PC2-8000 - DDR1000 (FSB 500MHz)


As far as CPU's go the CD2 e6700 seems kinda handy with it x10 multi